Urban Events, Hosting New Attractions

Jennifer Kocher is founder of Urban Events, the organization that hosts several local events: the Riverfront Wine Festival, the Omaha Beer Fest and new this year, Omaha Restaurant Week.

Said Kocher, “I created Urban Events for the sole purpose of organizing the wine festival in Nebraska. My partners and I saw a need for a more serious wine event where both beginners and afficionados could not only taste new wines, but also have an opportunity to learn about the varietals, experience wine/food pairings and challenge their palates with comparative tastings.” This year’s Riverfront Wine Festival is Aug. 19 and 20 at Stinson Park at Aksarben Village, 63rd-67th between Center & Pine Streets. The festival is in its third year.
Kocher also planned this year’s inaugural Omaha Beer Fest. The Omaha Beer Fest featured over 100 craft beers from 40 different breweries. Brewmasters and other VIPs from the industry taught seminars and showcased their finest brews in our Beer Academy. Said Kocher, “Omaha has a growing craft beer culture and we wanted to start a festival that exposed it and satisfied their itch for something more than just a tasting event. We look forward to bringing more events like this to Omaha in the future.”
New this year is Omaha Restaurant Week, a promotional period where select restaurants will offer a three-course, prix fixe menu. Restaurant Week campaigns have been successful in markets such as Kansas City, Denver and Chicago. Said Kocher, “Omaha has a unique restaurant scene and several notable restaurants have opened in the past few years. Omaha Restaurant Week gives local foodies and visitors a reason to get out and try these new places, revisit old favorites, and indulge at restaurants they have never before visited.” Omaha Restaurant Week runs September 16 through September 25.
Kocher grew up in near Elmwood Park and raised her family there. “Omaha’s growth and livelihood is important to me, so I strive to bring the types of events that are popular in other major metropolitan areas to my hometown.” Her background includes event planning and real estate sales.
Kocher is committed to working with a charitable organization on all of her events. For the Omaha Beer Fest, attendance supports the Nebraska chapter of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy. The wine festival supports Junior League of Omaha and the Omaha Restaurant Week will raise money and awareness for Food Bank for the Heartland.